3 hours ago
8
In early December, I bought two day tickets for Leeds festival 2025 from Ticketmaster as a Christmas present for my grandson.
After completing the purchase I discovered it was not possible to transfer the tickets. There was no indication of this when I made the purchase.
Since then I have been trying to find a resolution with its customer support team and they have said the tickets will become transferable nearer the time.
However, this is quite impractical since my grandson would need to wait until then to arrange travel from Dundee and book accommodation.
I believe Ticketmaster is ignoring my consumer rights and have told them so. It suggested I contact the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, which I did but it rejected my complaint.
PC, Stonehaven
The ticket-buying process is unrecognisable these days, not least because of the might of Ticketmaster, which is behind about 70% of concert tickets sales globally. In this new world it is usually e-tickets changing hands and it is becoming essential to own a smartphone if you want to buy entrance to an event.
You were frustrated to discover it was not possible to transfer the tickets straight away but if paper ones were being issued perhaps they might not have arrived by now either as the festival takes place in late August.
These days ticket distribution is far more tightly controlled in large part to make things hard for touts, who were buying up tickets and selling them on. A growing number of promoters for in-demand events issue tickets very late in the day to stop them ending up on resale sites.
Consumers can transfer tickets bought on Ticketmaster for most events but some have their own rules and restrictions. For example, the option may not be available if the artist or venue has asked for it to be turned off.
For Leeds, the transfer window is determined by the organiser, Festival Republic, not Ticketmaster and has still not opened yet. When it becomes available all ticket holders will be notified via email.
Ticketmaster had been in touch to reassure you that it will then be possible to transfer the tickets to your grandson but you remain dissatisfied with the whole experience.
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